BlackBerry Curve to be released May 31st? Whatever.

I know what everyone is thinking, "Please stop!". We do have this on sort of confirmed authority: the BlackBerry Curve will be released this Thursday, the 31st of May. It should appear in all "distribution channels", and AT&T will have their usual 90 day exclusive in the USA. By now we all know the run down — AT&T Mobile Music, 2 megapixel camera, spell checker, and AT&T’s Mall feature to buy ringtones and other downloadable content. Anyone interested in pricing? It will run ya’ $449.99 to buy it outright, $274.99 with a one year agreement, and $199.99 for a 2 year agreement with a $39.99 voice plan. That’s about it, check out the full "press release" after the jump!

Thanks, Jamie!

BlackBerry Curve to Launch May 31

Exclusive to AT&T for at least 90 days after launch.

AT&T will launch the full-featured and much anticipated BlackBerry Curve on May 31 in all distribution channels. The BlackBerry Curve is exclusive to AT&T for at least 90 days after launch and is the smallest, lightest full QWERTY BlackBerry yet offered. It combines a compact design with many new features and broad international coverage.

With an exclusive, liquid silver finish and new trackball navigation system, the Curve is the first BlackBerry device to support AT&T Mobile Music, an enhanced media player, support for stereo Bluetooth headsets and a 3.5 mm headset jack. The device also features a 2-megapixel camera. The Curve is the first BlackBerry to offer spell-checker for e-mail, AT&T Push-to-Talk, TeleNav Maps and the AT&T Mall feature for purchasing ring tones and downloads.

The quad-band BlackBerry Curve gives customers the ability to make phone calls in more than 190 countries and access e-mail and other data applications in 130 countries. All AT&T BlackBerry devices enjoy this advantage, giving the company the largest portfolio of BlackBerry products with global roaming capabilities of any U.S. carrier.

Special Note on Product Packaging at Launch

The BlackBerry Curve may also be identified as the BlackBerry 8300 on packaging and in-box materials for up to 30 days after launch.

Accessory packaging may have the BlackBerry 8300 designation for several months after launch. Please note these names refer to the same product. But in all customer-facing marketing materials (advertising, Web, merchandising), the BlackBerry Curve name will be used.

Other product highlights:

Dimensions: 4.21 inches x 2.36 inches x .61 inches; weight: 3.93 oz .

Excellent battery life: up to four hours talk time, up to 17 days standby time.

Supports expandable MicroSD memory.

Powerful 312 MHz processor.

BlackBerry Messaging ("IM-like" messaging to other BB devices).

Pricing

BlackBerry Curve will launch with a $100 instant rebate in BMG channels:

No Commitment – $449.99

One-Year Contract without $100 rebate – 374.99

One-Year Contract with $100 rebate – $274.99

Two-Year Contract without $100 rebate – $299.99

Best Price (two-year unlimited + $39.99 voice) – $199.99

Comments

jhoody

nyc did not have many maybe two official cingular stores had it….some claim they were getting it today…..others said june 7th(dont know where they get that date). if nyc doesnt have it again im just gonna rush order it today for sat or monday… all us nyc people dont have it do good :(

Chris

Stopped by an AT$T store last night, had no idea about any release date…surprise, surprise….I get a discount from my company as well but they said it was 50% off the MSRP, not 50% off the 2 year plan price….is that what anyone else has heard or do you get the % off the 2 year plan phone price????

Thank you!

WRB

Business Care Dept is allegedy getting 8,400 on Jun 4.

fullcount

Picked mine up yesterday. Little tweaked about no case but I like it better than the 8800 and the Pearl. Camera is nicer than anticipated.

For those that have, has anyone had issues separating SMS/MMS from the messages folder. On the 8800 it eliminated one of the folders. On the curve I get three: Messages, Email, & SMS/MMS.

tom

got it this AM….poor reception…only 2 or 3 bars where I normally got 4 or 5 with the Blackjack….

Donkey Kong

I ordered mine online and didn’t get rush shipping. I’ll still probably get it on Monday before getting a call from my Cingular Store contact who will be holding one for me as soon as they get them in stock. Still can’t believe that shipments were so small.

It sucks to not have it yet but I know its on the way and I don’t have to wait 12 weeks to get the rebate. What’s the word on the rebates anyway?

CE

47 Street & Madison in Manhattan. Just got mine there. They have a bunch in stock…the store was empty.

GO NOW!!!

jaydub

Just got mine in Vernon Hills, IL, and Libertyville, IL says they got some in about two hours ago. VH is out of them, now, I think.

vince

got mine at 51st and park a little while ago. said they got a hundred at 1pm, when i got mine around 4:30, they only had 20 left.

WRB

Gave up waiting on Business Care so I suffered the hassle of paying in a store -but it ended up kinda nice because the staff dumped all the old 8700 data into the Curve – plus they filled out the rebate and mailed it off immediately. (I hate the torture of filling those out what with the cutting of the box, etc).

So I’ve had mine 24 hours and there is *some* adjustment with the trackball. My finger still goes right to the side scroll wheel. On some level the 8700 was easier to work with – but the tradeoff of having the smaller phone and camera is totally worth it. I get fantastic reception and callers claim the phone sounds much better than my 8700.